PARRSBORO: Goals most can only dream of accomplishing Jake Yorke has achieved and with his track record can only soar in future endeavors.
After graduating as Parrsboro Regional High's Valedictorian in 2004, and being on the first tier of Dean's list at Mount Saint Vincent University for the past four years is quite an accomplishment in itself. For 21-year-old Jake Yorke it doesn't stop there. Yorke is on his way to Oxford University in September 2008 after receiving a Rhodes Scholarship from Oxford University.
As the first Rhode Scholar ever to come from Mount Saint Vincent University Yorke will graduate from undergraduate studies this spring and leave for England in the fall to study for his doctorate at Oxford University.
The scholarship provides full funding for two years of study at the prestigious school with the possibility for a third year.
First presented in 1902 by Cecil Rhodes there are only 200 of these awards presented each year worldwide with eleven of the Rhodes Scholarships awarded in Canada this year.
Yorke also received $1,600 from Association of Nova Scotia Housing Authority (ANSHA) President Nancy McLelan on March 15 in Parrsboro.
"ANSHA no longer exists and the organization had funds left therefore Cobequid Housing Authority decided to take the funds and provide deserving students with an allocated amount of the left over funds," McLelan said.
"The students were chosen by an independent judge who was a former university president. Jake's name kept coming up on top, he is an amazing person and very well deserving of the funds," McLelan said.
Jakes received $500 when he graduated in 2004 from Cobequid Housing, $1,500 in 2006 and this final presentation of $1,600 which Jake can spend at his own discretion.